Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-03

The excitement in ROssvlle had grown
steadily. The question discussed every
where was:
"Why had Miss Burnett called on Cap
tain Hodges in his office on Saturday af-
ternoon AT half past t.
The only person who took no part in all
the wonder and conjecture was the Cap
tain's wife. Her friendship for Miss Bur
nett seemed to have strengthened, but
she positively refueed to enlighten the
gossips by even the vaIuest hint. Curl
osity, by the natural process, developed
into suspicion and Miss Burnett perceived
that her patronage was diminishing
Mrs. Hodges, however, brought her
quantity of sewing to do for the children,
and above all, intrusted her with an es-
peclally gorgeous gown of sky blue silk
IN which she expected to appear on Deco
ration Day This, with white bonnet
and cOrsage bouquet of red roses, the
captain thought would be both highly be
coming and patriotic.
For Decoration Day in Rossville was to
be observed with very unusual solemn
ties. General Boulder of the State militia
was to deliver the grafton. Miss Buskirll
was to read an original poem, the Pitts
boro choral union and brass band We're
to assist and Wallace Post, &. A. r., was
to come ont in force In all these arrange
mentS Miss Burnett took II very unusual
interest, which WAS fortunate as she
might have felt more keenly her neigh
| bors' changed demeanOr.
While the mystery deepened Captain
Hodges added fresh fuel to the flame by
leaving suddenly for the South, and the vii.
l1,r tl,.i,.
Burnett contemplated following him by
the next train. After an absence of a week
he returned and went about his business as
usual
rhe day preceding Decoration Day Cap
tain Hodges drove out to Rose Hill with
the sexton. 1t was supposed that he had
gone to make some arrangements for the
exercises, in his capacity as first command
ant. In the wagon We're an Oblong box
and a marble slab such as the government
provides for those who had died in its ser
vice. Both had arrived that day, but as
the captain received many such such ship
ments over the b. b. and c., they had not
attracted much notice At the cemetery
the box was removed from the wagon and
buried in vacant lot in an out-of the way
part of the grounds. The slab was placed
in position and the two men returned to
the village.
General Boulder arrived on the 0 o'clock
to the hall by the reception committee,
where the veterans were assembling.
White robed children were tluttering
about. Miss Buskirk had on a new black
silk dress and bonnet trimmed in laven-
der, and the Pittsboro brass band and
choral union were already tuning their
separate voices. Finally the procession
moved with the poetess, the orator of the
day and the post cOmmandant in car
riage at its head, the band Immediately
following playing, my Country IT'S of
Thee" The gates of Rose Hill stood open.
The feet of the marching men and the
wheels of the vehicles sank deeply into
the fresh gravel of the drives. Flags were
planted on the graves, many of them new,
where the bodies had been removed to
this from an old burying ground, ana
flowers and garlands were strewn above
them.
There is one more" said Captain
Hodges as the decorating committee
turned away and he led them to mound
marked by a stone which bore this inscrip-
ton:
Robert Strong,